TV westerns

'The Roy Rogers Show' | 1951-1957

Los Angeles Times Archives

White hat: With more than 100 cowboy movies to his name, Roy Rogers played himself as the owner of the Double R Ranch in this TV series, alongside wife Dale Evans, sidekick Pat Brady, horse Trigger and German shepherd Bullet. Every week, Roy Rogers and his posse rescued the weak and helpless. Each episode ended with the show's theme song, "Happy Trails" written by the Queen of Cowgirls herself, and crooned by Dale and Roy over the credits. Black hat: Each week brought its own set of black hats, including claim jumpers, rustlers, tyrannical lawmen and corrupt financiers. Pictured above: Bob Hope demonstrates his riding technique for Trigger and Roy Rogers in 1951, before the debut of "The Roy Rogers Show."

White hat: With more than 100 cowboy movies to his name, Roy Rogers played himself as the owner of the Double R Ranch in this TV series, alongside wife Dale Evans, sidekick Pat Brady, horse Trigger and German shepherd Bullet. Every week, Roy Rogers and his posse rescued the weak and helpless. Each episode ended with the show's theme song, "Happy Trails" written by the Queen of Cowgirls herself, and crooned by Dale and Roy over the credits. Black hat: Each week brought its own set of black hats, including claim jumpers, rustlers, tyrannical lawmen and corrupt financiers. Pictured above: Bob Hope demonstrates his riding technique for Trigger and Roy Rogers in 1951, before the debut of "The Roy Rogers Show." (Los Angeles Times Archives)

White hat: Marshal Matt Dillon as portrayed by actor James Arness. This small-town marshal has plenty to deal with: bar fights, cattle rustling, abuse and the West's grittiest outlaws. The quiet, almost vulnerable, lawman does his best to protect peace and justice in Dodge City, Kan. The job isn't easy, though, and calls for difficult decisions and good solid judgment. Black hat: There are plenty of black hats for Dillon to deal with. His Wild West is full of complicated but inescapable truths. He can't save a girl from her abusive father, but he can throw a stagecoach robber or kidnapper in jail. Each villainous scoundrel represents a different element of the expanding American frontier.

White hat: Marshal Matt Dillon as portrayed by actor James Arness. This small-town marshal has plenty to deal with: bar fights, cattle rustling, abuse and the West's grittiest outlaws. The quiet, almost vulnerable, lawman does his best to protect peace and justice in Dodge City, Kan. The job isn't easy, though, and calls for difficult decisions and good solid judgment. Black hat: There are plenty of black hats for Dillon to deal with. His Wild West is full of complicated but inescapable truths. He can't save a girl from her abusive father, but he can throw a stagecoach robber or kidnapper in jail. Each villainous scoundrel represents a different element of the expanding American frontier. (Associated Press)